Hinge



Mardi 13, 1934,. J. T. woon 1,950,874

March 13, 14934. J. T. ATwooD HINGE Filed` April 29. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED -sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE 24 Claims.

This invention relates to hinges for the doors of motor vehicles, and is particularly concerned with a novel hinge and method of mounting the same with a view to avoiding any projection of the hinge from the body and keeping the hinge `completely concealed.

I am aware of the types of concealed hinges in which the members carrying the door were movable into and out of recesses in the pillar made large enough to accommodate these specially formed members. However, such hinges are not suitable for the present day motor car because there is either not sumcient room in the door pillars in certain designs, or it is impractical to make such provision on pillars of steel construction, and too many difficulties in the matter of assembling would be entailed. The principal object of my invention is to provide a hinge which, in its preferred form, has straight inner and outer members and which is Well adapted to use on bodies and doors of pressed steel construction,.being `arranged to be fastened directly to the wall of the pillar and door frame for a rigid mounting, besides giving the desiredvflush exterior at the hinge andcomplete concealment.

Other objects of the inventionare concerned With novel methods of fastening the hinge mem- .bers and providing covers for the hinges, which are removable to expose the hinges and permit servicing or removal thereof, and which are furthermore adjustable with relation to the hinges to centered position in the hinge recesses in the event that is desired because of some irregularity in the mounting of the door.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichl Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an automobile body showing the external appearance at the door secured with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification at the joint line;

Fig. 3 is a view looking in the direction indicated by the line 3f-3 of Figure l showing the Y 4vdoor opened;

Ci A Cri Fig. 8 is a face View of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a face view with the cover plate removed;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line'10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section through the outer hinge member illustrating a modified or alternative construction in which the cover plate is clamped in place so as to be adjustable relative to the hinge;

Fig. 12 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing a further modification in which both hinge members are of angle form;

Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 12 showing a different` fastening of the hinge members;

Figs. 14 and 15 are sections corresponding to Figs. 12 and 13 of a further modification in which only the outer member is of angle form, and

Figs. 16 and 17 are two other sections similar to Figs. l2 and 13 of a further modification in which the inner hinge member is of angle form.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1-3, 10 indicates a portion of an automobile body on which a door 11 is hinged. The hinges provided in accordance with my invention are in concealment at the points 12 and 13 where the jogs occur in the joint line 14. In other Words, the hinges, which appear in Fig. 3 at 15 and 16, do not project from the body, so that the exterior `of the body is flush, which is something particularly desirable in streamlined designs.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that each hinge is of the ordinary butt type and comprises a straight inner member 17 and straight outer 0 member 18 having knuckles pivotally .connected by a pintle 19. The pillar 20 of the body 10 has `a pressed-in portion 21 deep enough to accommodate the hinge entirely behind the plane of the outside of the door and body, so that the door panel 22 and hinge cover 23 which are substantially flush with one another come flush with the body panel '24, in keeping with the spirit of this design.

The inner member 17, in accordance with another phase of this invention, is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the outer member 18 which as shown is disposed in the planeof the door and body, speaking with reference to the closed position of the door. A diagonal seat 25 is formed on the pillar 20 reaching inwardly from the pressed-in portion 21 at the proper angle'to receive the inner hinge member 17. A reinforcing member 26 welded or otherwise suitdoor behind a pressed-in portion. 29 of the door` frame in which the straight elongated outer the hinge to the door frame.

member 18 of the hinge is arranged to seat, and this reinforcing member likewise has screw threaded holes. provided therein to receive screws 30 for rigidly fastening-the outer member 18 of While screws-are shown and are generally/.v preferred, it should, of course, be understood that rivets may be used, and in some cases the hinge members may be welded to the door fra-me and pillar, or certain car. manufacturers may prefer to weld or rivet the one member to the door and fasten the other member removably to the pillar byA screws or bolts. The reinforcementat the hinge fastenings insures a very rigid hinge mounting and there is no likelihood of the door becomingI wobbly. After the outer member 18 of the hinge is fastened to thedoor, the cover plate 23 therefor is arranged to be fastened in place on the outside of the hinge member by means of screws 31 which thread in holes provided therefor in the member 18.

The foregoing description should suiiice to show that the present invention provides an extremely practical as well as economical door hinge and mounting therefor. Since the hinge itself is completely covered up, it requires no finishing whatever and dcan be furnished at very low cost as compared with exposed hinges. Furthermore, the general appearance of the carv is greatly improved by virtue ofthe concealment of the hinges and the flush exterior going with it. The fact that the pivoted portions of the hinge members ldo not project from the car body is also of advantage from the standpoint that there is much less likelihood of anyone getting a lfinger pinched between the hinge members in the closing of the door; the outer hinge member does notswing out enough to result in much of an opening where a person on the outside of the car is at all apt to get his finger caught. The fact that the hinges are fastened to outside surfaces of the door and pillar makes the present hinge just as easy to install as the exposed hinge despite the concealment. Furthermore, there are distinct advantages in having the inner hinge.

member' 17 disposed at the angle shown; it means that the hinge is at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the door both in its closed and opened positions instead of being at right angles to the door` in the closed position and substantially in the plane of the door. in the open position, with the result that there is substantially the same rigid support for the door under the two conditions of operation that should be taken into consideration. The old mounting .atively confined space available in a door pillar,

'and in that way a larger seat can be used and enough fastening screws used located far enough apart to insure maximum rigidity of the hinge. The cover plate, besides offering the advantage Furthermore, the disposition of the.

. ably secured on the inside of the seat portion 25 `mentation by special formation of the cover and/or special finishing thereof.

Before proceeding any further, it should be understood that the construction just described and those later to be described may be reversed with relation to the door and body without departing from the spirit of my invention. 'Ihatl is to say, while 10 designates the body and 11 the door, the part designated 10 might be considered the door and the part 11the body, i't-being immaterial which part of the assembly shown is swung relative to the other. The claims must be construed accordingly.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the covering of the outer member of the hinges may be formed integral with the door panel 22 as indicated at 23' and instead of having a rectangular jog' in the joint line 14 at each of the hinges', the projecting portionsv of the panel mayv be cut on arcs or to any other form, so long as the outer hinge member 18 is fully covered.

Referring now to Figs. 7-10, I have shown a construction quite similar to that of Fig. 4 but having a cover plate 23-a projecting out of the plane of the door and body panels 22 and 24, the plate 23-a being fastened to theouter hinge member 18 by screws 31 which when tightened clamp the plate in position in abutment with the hinge member 18 itself for half the length of the cover plate and in abutment with the door panel 22 v for ,the other half of the length of the cover plate.

The`door panel, in other words, extends over the recessed portion 29 of the door frame, as indicated at 32, and the outer hinge member 18 is slipped into the recess behind this portion 'of the panel. -The screws 30 are accessible through holes 33 in the panel portion 32. forming of the door panel considerably and it is obvious that it is just as simple a matter to fasten the hinges on the door or unfasten the same. Another hole 34 is provided in the panel portion 32 where the hole comes in the outer member 18 to receive one of the two screws 31 for fastening the cover plate 23-a in place. The cover plate 23-a has the edges thereof bent to form a rim 35 for snug engagement with the panel 22, and flanges 36 are provided beyond the -edge of the panel 22 to fit over that portion of the outer hinge member 18 which would otherwise be left exposed when the door is opened. In that way a good finished appearance is secured. .The fact that the cover plate 23-a projects out of theplane of the door and body panels is not at all objec- This simplifies the tionable, particularly since allof the edges of the cover plate are nicely rounded, as indicated; in fact this construction may be found preferable from the standpoint of appearance to that in which the cover plate comes substantially flush with the door and body panels.'

In Fig. 1,1, I have shown still another cover plate 23-b arranged to be clamped in place in .abutment with the door panel 22 and hinge member 18'by screws 31 enteredthroughenlarged h'oles 37 provided inthe cover plate. This cover plate is otherwise the same in construction as the cover plate 23-'a'but is a trifle wider than the outer hinge member 18 so that the flanges 36 will be spaced fromv the edges of the hinge member sufficiently to permit adjusting the cover plate lone way or the other relative to the hinge mem- -ber to a central position in the recess 21 before the screws 3,1 are tightened. In that way a good appearance is secured regardless of some slight irregularity in the mounting of the door, because it will not matter whether `the hinges are a trifle off center inthe recesses if the covers therefor can be moved to a centered position as just described.

Fig. illustrates a construction similar to Fig. 4 but in which the inner hinge-member 17 projects through a slot 38 in the pressed-in portion 21 of the door pillar, and is fastened to the angled end 39 of a member 40 welded or otherwise suitably secured on the inside of the door pillar.

Screws 27 are passedthrough holes in the member 17' and threaded in holes in the angled end 39 of the member 40 for a rigid mounting of the hinge on the door pillar. The screws are entered from the inside of the door pillar before the interior finish is applied. The outer hinge member 18 has an end portion 41 bent at right angles and entered through a slot 42 inthe door frame and clamped by screws 30 onto a reinforcing member 43 welded or otherwise suitably secured on the inside of the door frame. The reinforcing member 43 bridges over'the end 41 of the outer hinge member 18 as shown in` Fig. 5a. The

' screws 30 pass through enlarged holes 44 in the reinforcement 43 and thread in holes in a tapping plate 45 which is adapted to be drawn up tightly against the back of the reinforcement when the screws are tightened. The plate 45 is retained by a cage 46 provided on the back of the reinforcement 43 so that it cannot drop down when the screws 30 are removed. The enlarged holes 47 in the door frame afford access to the screws 30 from the edge of the door, and it is apparent that the vconstruction permits jogging the door slightly in any direction, that is, up or down, in or out, sufciently to bring it central with respect to the door opening in the body and have it disposed properly r. with respect to the outsidev of the body, before the screws 30 are tightened firmly. Lock washers of suitable form may be provided under the heads of the screws to insure their remaining tight once they are set. Lock washers are shown uunder the heads of the screws 27. The door panel 22 is shown as having a projecting` portion 23 to cover the outer'vhinge member 18. This would, of course, make a jog in the joint line 14 of the form appearing in Figure 1 or some other form depending on the shape of the projecting portion 23".

In Fig. 6 the inner hinge member 17 is similar to that of Fig. 4 and is fastened to the door pillar on the inclined seat 25 by screws 27 threaded into the reinforcing member 26. The outer hinge member 18v is not elongated like the member 18 of Fig. 4 but is made short enough so that it can be placed at an angle like the inner hinge member 17 arid fastened to the edge of the door. An

angle member 48 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the door frame provides a seat for the hinge member 18, and screws 30 thread into this member to rigidly secure the -hinge member thereto, as shown. In this case, as in the construction of Fig. 5, the door panel 22 vhas an extension 23" suitably formed integral with it and the pillar while still having the pivotallyconnected ends of these members disposed parallel to and behind the plane of the outside of the door and body or at least behind the cover 2s" forV concealment. Reinforcing members 26' and 28 are shown on the inside of the door pillar and door frame, respectively, to receive the screws 27 and 30 for fastening the hinge members in place. The pillar is preferably recessed, as shown at 49, to accommodate the offset portion of the inner member 17a, and a similar. recess 50 is provided in the edge of the `door for reception of the offset portionA of the outer member 18-a. In Fig. 13, I have shown how the hinge members may be entered through openings 51 and 52 in the pillar and door frame, respectively, so as to permit fastening the offset portions on the inside of 'the pillar and door. In that case the screws 27 and 30 are threaded directly into the hinge members and the reinforcements are used simply to lend body and strength to the sheet metal-walls at the heads of the screws. Y

Figs. 14 and 15 correspond to Figs. 12 and'13.

except that the inner member 17" is straight and fastened-directly to the bottom of the pillar recess by `screws 27 entered in the reinforcing member 26'. The outer member 18-a is the same as in the two previous constructions.`

Figs. 16 and 17 correspond to Figs. 12 and 1 but have a straight outer member 18 similar to that of Fig. 4 in conjunction with an` inner member 17-a of right angle form. The outer member 18 it will be noticed is fastened from the inside of the kdoor frame by screws 30 which pass through the reinforcing member 28 and thread directly in the hinge member. In Fig. 17 the door frame-is shown recessed at 29 to accommodatey frame has a portion of the wall thereof cut away, v

as indicated at 51, so that ,the outer hinge member 18 may have direct abutment with the reinforcing .member 28. Of course, the construction in the door frame could be made along the lines of Figs. 5 and 5a, that is to say, the reinforcing member could be made to bridge the hinge member similarly as the reinforcement 43,with the screwsBO entered through the reinforcement and threaded as shown in the hinge member. The holes in the reinforcingfmember are shown aslarger than the Shanks of the screws 30".' so as to permit jogging `the door one way or the other to the desired position before it is fastened tightly.

In closing, it should be understood that while I have shown hinge covers 23 and 23" integral with the'door pillar in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 12-17, such hinge covers as 23-a and .2S-b of Figs. 7-11 could be employed or a hinge cover such as that' shown at 23in Figs. 1 and 4. In other words.

lthe features employed in the different construe# tions illustrated are to be considered as interchangeable in soffar as they are not inconsistent or out of keeping with the rest of the construction in any'gliven form of the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that while I have shown in Figs. 5, 16-and 1-7 adjustability of the door with respect to the outer hinge member, a similar construction might be provided in the' mounting of the inner hinge member on the body,

thatv is to say, the inner hinge member may be adjustable relative to the body and the doorfadjustable relative to the outer hinge member.

Then, too, while Il have described the cover plate 23-b shown in Fig. 11 as applied to the outer hinge member 18 ofw Figs. 7-10, it will be clear that this cover would, ofcourse, be found useful wherethe door is adjustablerelative. to the outer hinge member or where the nnerhinge member 150 is adjustable relative to thebody, or both. The only reason for not showing these various forms is that it would means undue multiplication of views.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects andadvantages of my invention, and the appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modications and adaptations.

1. In an automobile construction, a body portion, a door portion and a hinge for hingedly supporting the door portion on the body portion, said hinge comprising pivotally connected inner and outer members mounted on the door and body portions so .that at least the inner member is disposed in a plane at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the door and body portions, whereby said member is at an acutev angle relative to the door portionin the open and closed positions of the latter.

2. In an automobile construction, a body portion, a door portion and a hinge for hingedly supporting the door portion on the body portion, said hinge comprising pivotally connected inner and outer members mounted on the door and body portions, the outer member being disposed parallel to the plane of the door and body portions when the door is closed andthe inner member being disposed in a plane at an acute angle with respect to .the plan'e of the door and body portions, whereby said. inner member is in acute angular relation to the door portion in the open and closed positions of the latter.

3. In an automobile construction, a body portion, a door portion and a hinge for hingedly supporting the door portion on the body portion, said hinge comprising pivotally connected straight inner and outer members, the inner member being ,relatively short andthe outer member relatively long, the outer member being mounted on the door portion so as to lie in the plane of the door and body portions when the -door is closed, and the inner member being mounted on the body portionin a ,plane at an acute angle With respect to the plane of the door and body portions for the purpose described.

4. .In an automobile construction, the combination of a body portion, a door portion arranged to swing on a substantially vertical axis relative to the body portion, the meeting edges of said door and body portions `providing a substantially straight joint line in a transverse vertical plane, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, said hingese'ach comprising a pintle laterally spaced relative to the joint line 1 and` disposed next to the plane of the outside of the door and lbody portions, and inner and outer hinge members pivotally connected together by the pintle, the -inner member extending toward the jointline in a plane at an acute angle with respect' to theffplane of the door and body por. tions and secured-to the adjacent one of the door and body portions, andthe outer member extending toward` and beyond the joint line substantially in the plane of the doorand body portions and secured to the portion remote with respect to the 5. Inan automobile construction, the combination of a body portion, a door portion arranged to swing on a substantially vertical axis relative to the body portion, the meetingedges of said door- Aand body, portions providing a l.subst'antiallj'r straight joint line in'a transverse vertical plane,

a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, said hinges each comprising a lpintle laterally spaced relative to the joint line and disposed next to the` plane of the outside of the door and body portions, and inner andA outer hinge .members pivotally connected together bythe pintle, the inner'member extending toward the joint line in a plane at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the `door and body portions and securedto the adjacent one of the door and body portions, and the outer member extending toward and beyond the joint lline substantially in the plane of the door and body portions ,and 'secured to the portion remote with respect to the pintle, and covers for the outer hinge memthe door and body portions behind the panel of one of said portions and projecting from the edge of said portion into a hinge recess .provided in the edgelof the other portion, means accessible through holes provided in the panel for fastening said'mernber to said portion, and an inner hinge member pivotally connected to the projecting end of the outer hinge member and secured to the recessed portion, land covers for said hinges overlying the perforated portion of the aforesaid panel and the projecting portion of the outer hinge members and suitably secured in position.

7. A construction as set forth in claim 6 wherey thereof stands in relief with respect to the outside of the door andbody portions, the marginal edge portions of said Acovers being inwardly vdioutr hinge members.

8. A construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein the covers are formed so that lthe outer face thereof stands in relief'with respect to the outside of the door and body portions,'the marginal edge portions of said covers being inwardly directed forV abutment with the adjacent panel and' outer hinge members, said covers being furtherformed to provide inwardlydirected flanges covering those portions of the outer hinge members.

lbeyond the edge of the adjacent panel behind which said members are mounted.

in the covers are formed so that the outer face rected for abutment With the adjacent panel and 10. A construction as set forth in claim 6 ing amount of adjustment up o r down 'of the covers with respect to the hinge members, the structure including means for fastening said covers in adjusted position relative to the hinge members.

11. In an automobile construction, the combination of a body portion providing a door opening, a door arranged to swing on a substantially vertical axis relative to the body portion into and out of the opening, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, said hinges each comprising pivotally connected stationary and movable members, the stationary members being rigidly secured to the body portion adjacent the door opening, the movable members being slidable in any direction in the plane of the door relative to seats therefor on the edge portion of the door, and means for adjustably clamping the movable members on the edge portion of the door so as to permit centralzing the door with respect to the door opening in assembling.

12. In an automobile construction, the combination of a body portion, a door portion swingable relative to the body portion on a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, each of said hinges comprising pivotally connected inner and outer members, the outer members being disposed parallel to the plane of the door and body portions in the closed position of the door, the hinges being suitably fixed with the members thereof secured to the door and body portions, and covers for the outer hinge members adjustably secured with relation thereto.

` 13. In an automobile construction, the combi--4 nation of a body portion, a door portion swingable relative to the body portion on a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, each of said hinges comprising pivotally connected inner and outer members, the outer members being disposed parallel to the plane of the door and body portions in the closed position of the door, the hinges beingsuitably fixed with the one set of members adjustably secured to one of said door and body portions whereby to permit adjustment of the door relative to the body in assembling, and covers for the outer hinge members .adjustably secured with relation thereto.

14. In anautomobile construction, the combination of door and bo'dyportions, the body portion providing a door opening adjacent a door pillar, the pillar havinghinge recesses provided therein adjacent the edge of the door` portion, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door portion on the body pillar, said hinges each comprising pivotally connected inner and outer members, the inner members being suitably secured to the pillar in said recesses, and the outer members being disposed substantially parallel vto the door and body portions and suitably secured to the adjacent edge of the door, the one set of hinge members being adjustable relative to the associated portion to which the same are secured, whereby to facilitate assembling of the door on the body, and hinge covers cooperating with the outer hinge members and adjustably secured in position to permit centralizing thereof with respect to the hinge recesses in the pillar.

15. In an automobile construction, the combination of adjacent substantialy coplanar door hinge member and suitably secured in position.

16. A construction as set forth in claim 15, wherein the covers are formed so that the outer face thereof is in relief with respect to the outside of the door and body portions, the marginal edges of said covers being inwardly directed for abutment with the adjacent one of the door Aand body portions.

17. A construction as set forth in claim 15, wherein the covers are formed so that the outer' face thereof is in relief with respect to the outside of the door and body portions, the marginal edges of said covers being inwardly directed for abutment with the adjacent one of the door and body portions, said covers being further formed to provide inwardly directed iianges covering the.

edges of the free end portions of the outer hinge members.

18. A structure as set 'forth in claim 15, wherein the covers are formed so as to enclose the edges of the free end portions of the outer hinge members.

19. A structure as set forth in claim 15, wherein the covers are formed so as to enclose the edges of the free end portions of the outer hinge members, the same having inwardly directed flanges to enclose said edges, said covers being wider than said outer hinge members so that ,the ang'es are disposed in spaced relation toA the edges of said hinge members, whereby to permit a corresponding amount of movement of the covers relative to `the hinge members, the structure including means for fastening said covers in adjusted position relative to the hinge members.

20. In an automobile construction, the combination of adjacent substantially coplanar door and body portions having their meeting edges dening a substantially straight joint line in a transverse vertical plane, outside panels for the ldoor and body portions terminating at the joint line, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, each hinge 'comprising an outer-hinge member secured to one of said door and body portions and extending therefrom substantially in the plane of said portions to a point laterally spaced relative to the joint line, and an inner hinge member pivotally connected to the free end of said vouter hinge member and secured to the other of said door and body portions, and covers overlying the projecting portions of said outer hinge members and suitably secured in position.

21. A structure as set forth in claim 20, wherein the covers are formed so that the outer face thereof is in relief with respect to the outside of the door and body portions, the marginal edges of said covers being inwardly directed for abutment with the hinge member.

22. A structure as set forth in claim 20, wherein the covers are formed so as to enclose the edges of the projecting portions of said outer hinge members. Y

23. A structure as set forth in claim 20, wherein the covers are formed so as to enclose the edges of the projecting portions of said outer hinge members, the same having inwardly directed flanges to enclose said edges, said covers being'wider than said outerv hinge members so that the flanges are disposed in spaced relation tothe edges of said hinge members, whereby to permit a corresponding amount of movement of the covers relative to the hinge members, the structure including means for fastening said covers in adjusted position relative to the hinge members.

24. In an amoutobile construction the combination of a body portion providing a door opening, a door arranged to swing on a substantially` vertical axis relative to the body into and out of the opening, a plurality of hinges for hingedly supporting the door on the body, said hinges ing said members to said portion so as to permit centralizing the door with respect to the door opening in assembling.

JAMES T. A'YIWOOD. 

